Union backs report that criticises Ofsted ‘toxic, target-driven’ inspections

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has thrown its weight behind calls by the Demos think tank for a new inspection system to be created.

The report called for parents, teachers and pupils to be given responsibility for drawing up annual school reports by working alongside external inspectors from an approved list of independent organisations.

Demos said the current system forces headteachers and teachers to put results and targets ahead of pupils’ education, and leaves students feeling responsible for judgments made about their school based on their test and exam results. The study argued that this approach was “profoundly toxic” and was failing to improve standards.

The NUT’s general secretary Christine Blower said: “The report is quite right when it states that Ofsted as a measure of accountability in schools is both ‘toxic’ and does not lead to an improvement in education.

“The NUT has long called for an inspection system which supports, not punishes, schools. Of course there has to be accountability in schools, but Ofsted clearly is not the answer.

“We need, as the report suggests, a rigorous system of school self-evaluation with light touch external moderation to ensure that schools are assessing their progress correctly.

“The evidence from other countries shows that where teachers ‘own’ assessment and evaluation, standards go up, not down. Negative judgments handed by Ofsted inspectors – often people with no recent teaching experience – have a huge impact on schools.”

Commenting on the report yesterday, Ofsted said more than nine out of 10 providers consistently said they were happy with their inspection and believed it would help them improve.

A spokesman added that Ofsted inspectors “carefully consider the views of parents and pupils as part of their inspection evidence, and are now spending more time than ever before observing lessons and teaching”.